Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-04-21
A FURIOUS FIRE.
Hundreds OF Prairie Farmers Render
ed Destitute by Terrible Prairie
Fires in Kansas.
Nearly a Score OF Persons Perish
While the Loss to Live StOckis
Great.

ATCHINSoN, han., April IZ.-Reports
concerning the destruction of life and
property caused by the great prairie
fire that swept over the eastern portion
of Norton and Graham eouH ties Satur
day last are yet meager and unsatisfac-
tory, but enough is known to appal the
stoutest hearts. The fire started IN Nico-
demus, ia Graham county. The Wind,
which was blowing forty miles an hour,
carried the flames over and through the
dry grasses at frightful speed. The
general destruction of property COM
Enenced near Roscoe, in Graham cou nty.
Here the fire spread over the country for
fully two and half miles ia width, and
as the wind carried itnorth, was coz
stantly spreading until it was seven
miles wide where il struck the north
fork of the Solomon river, three miles
east of Dinsmore. A few houses were
burned, and every stable with it's stacks
of hay and cribs of grain, was burned,
leaving hundreds of farmers almost des
titute. 1t is pitiful sight to pass over
the burned district and see the thous-
ands of burned chickens, turkeys, and
hundreds OF hogs, with occasional
horses and numerous cattle. Almost
every farmer lost from fifty to five hun
bred bushels of corn, besides small grain.
1t is definitely known that from thirteen
to sixteen lives were lost In the two ceun-
ties, but names have not been learned.
Four children persisted in one family.
How far the fire extended north from
the Solomnn is not known, but it must
have Travelled long distance.
FAMILY CONSUMED.
At the same time another fire swept
down the South fork of the Solomon to a
point near Millbrook, sweeping every
thing in it's path and bNrning six persons
to death-father, mother, and four child
remand large number of cattle, horses,
hogs, and poultry. In one instance a
woman prematurely gave birth to child
When the fire was discovered approach
ing her husband took her in his arms and
started for the plowed ground, but before
he reached it the wsman's clothing was
on fire. He succeeded in putting 1T out
and saving her life. The babe, less than
an hour old, with the other members of
the family, was saved, but the house and
other property on the farm was destroy
ed. Hundreds ." narrow escapes could
be related.
The burnt district extends a distance
of over sixty miles in length by two and
half to seven ia width. Starting on the
south fork of the Soloman river in Ora
ham county, the fire swept Fort to the
north fork, which it crossed at Edmund
station on the Central Branch railroad
in Norton county, and at last accounts it
was still sweeping toward the northwest
diagonally across Norton county, in the
direction of Decatur, the adjoining
county on the west, carrying destruction
and death in its path.
Thousands of head of stock of all kinds
have been burned, and thousands of tons
of hay, corn, and wheat, and from 100 to
IT'S houses and barns have been de-
stroyed.
Saturday was frightful day, one long
TO be remembered by great many
families In Norton a2d Graham counties
Huron, D. T., April 12-Additional re-
ports of disaster by prairie fire still ar
rive. In the vicinity of Washington, Mr..
Rock lost his house and barns, his house
hold goods and clothing. Ed. Waburn's
house and outbuildings were burned. Mr..
z. Noyes lost his house, furniture and
outbuildings. John Styles lost house,
furniture, outbuildings, grain and cloth
ing. VIVA. ToothaSher saved his build
ings, but his grove was ruined. John
Baughman lost his barn, all his machinery
farming implements, etc. Nicholas Shrub
lost his barns, granary, and large
amount OF wheat, machinery, etc. Editor
Byres, OF Altoona, had his house burned;
loss $500. Wn. Moriarity, of BroadIand,
had pair of mules, stable and granary
destroyed. South of Huron the fire of
Friday burned another barn, belonging
to DR.. Sanborn, of Chicago, worth 81 200.
Miss Kate Maloney, who was dangerously
burned by the fire, is gaining slowly, but
her recovery is very doubtful. There
were heavy rains here on Saturday and
Sunday night and this morning.
The fire originated in the vicinity of
the town of Washington Hills and swept
down toward the town of Washington,
thirty miles west of Huron, burning every
thing in its course, Beadle county has
never before experienced such fire. 1t
was driven bp wind blowing forty miles
an hour, and travelled faster than horse
could run.